Riverside stop-off in Lazenby dad's fight for justice

David Cryer, centre, with other supporters of the campaign at the Riverside Stadium

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A DAD’S crusade to get justice for his son dropped by Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

Four years ago, David Cryer’s son Matthew died, aged 17, after an incident at a nightclub on the Greek island of Zante.

Since then, David, inset, and other family members have campaigned to have his son’s killers brought to justice.

Yesterday, on what would have been Matthew’s 22nd birthday, David embarked on a whistle-stop tour of all 24 Championship football clubs to keep the campaign in the public eye.

With dad and son keen Sheffield Wednesday fans, the car set off at 3am yesterday from the club’s Hillsborough ground. It was due to finish back there at 2pm today before the home match with Bolton Wanderers.

But the car got a special welcome at the Riverside as David lived in Lazenby for 15 years and Matthew, whose stepmum Maria is from Lazenby, was a well known, popular lad with villagers.

Steve Holliday, 55, of Lazenby, was among those to welcome David. He said: “Matthew was a good, outgoing lad who was very popular in Lazenby. Most of us knew him - he’d been coming up from Sheffield from when he was a toddler.”

He added: “We’re just here to support David in keeping everyone aware of what’s going on.”

The car trip had already been to Barnsley, Huddersfield, Bolton, Burnley, Blackburn and Leeds before arriving at the Riverside yesterday.

David said: “It’s Matthew’s birthday today so I wanted to do something to remember him by and which would keep the campaign in the public eye. We will get justice for Matthew - it’s going to happen. No one is going to get away with what happened.”

A UK inquest in 2009 ruled that Matthew was unlawfully killed after hearing evidence that Greek bouncers kicked and punched him down stairs outside a Laganas nightclub.

Since his death, Matthew’s family have fought to get the case properly investigated by Greek authorities.

Greek police first said Matthew fell and choked on his own vomit. But after evidence of assault, and the inquest ruling, his family wants the case taken to trial in Zante.

Earlier this year, David presented his case in person to the island’s investigating magistrate. It’s hoped the supreme court on the Greek mainland will look at the case soon.

A film crew from Hourglass Productions joined the car journey as part of a TV documentary about the Justice For Matthew campaign.